Albania, Macedonia Talk On Strengthening Economic Ties

DURRES, July 17 – Visiting Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski and the host Albanian counterpart Bamir Topi restressed the very good relations between the two countries and urged their government to further deepen the cooperation in the economic field.
Crvenkovski made a two-day visit to Albania to meet with his counterpart in the port city of Durres, which Skopje intends to exploit as its way out to the sea.
The two presidents mentioned at their news conference that strengthening the economic ties was the priority for both countries along their efforts to get integrated into the European Union and NATO. The two countries have a 100 million euro annual trade exchange which they consider very little for two neighboring countries.
Establishing a closer cooperation in the energy area was another main topic. The two countries are part of a still not well-created southeastern energy zone and very much depend on producing it based on coal and hydropower plants without alternative resources.
Talking on Kosova was another main issue. Crvenkovski said that Kosova would be among the first items of the agenda of the new Skopje cabinet as it was finalized but denied to say whether they would recognize an independent Kosova or not.
Topi declined to comment on Skopje-Athens clashes over Macedonia’s name which also caused it not getting the NATO membership invitation as Albania and Croatia did at the NATO April summit.
Topi said that was an exclusively bilateral issue that would likely be resolved with the U.N. assistance.